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JJ, Pope and Kiara all ran down the halls of their high school, finding a quiet private area. "I mean, is that even possible?" Kie questioned. They were currently discussing the fact that a selfie of John B and Sarah was sent to them in the middle of class from a random number. Obviously they had suspicions considering they thought John B and Sarah died after presumably being labeled "lost at sea."

"I mean, Shoupe said that they didn't make it. He said that." Kiara spoke, sitting down on one of the blue outside lunch tables. "Okay, but I...I think we're overreacting 'cause we can't rule out the possibility that this could all be some kind of weird, cruel hoax," Pope added on.

"I'm just gonna ask."

"What if it's actually him, though?" JJ spoke up.

"Then I don't know, okay? I don't know," Pope said, still processing this all.

Kiara replied to the group message saying, "WTF is this you???" They waited a few seconds for a reply, "He's typing. He's typing," Kie said. The reply read, "Is JJ there?"

JJ added his reply, saying, "I'm here Bree."

The reply from John B read, "Did you pimp my short board?" A grin washed over JJ's face and he chuckled, "It's him," said JJ. "It's him," Kie smiled, feigning happy tears. "It's definitely him," Pope grinned, hugging JJ.

Kie read the next reply out loud, "Laying super low in Nassau." Kie furrowed her brows in confusion, "How the hell did they get to the Bahamas?" She questioned. "You can't kill a Pogue, dude," JJ said. "Especially John B," Pope added.

Another reply came in and JJ read it, "Tell Nova we're alive." JJ looked at Pope who immediately went to text his sister. "If Nova still lives in Nassau then John B and Sarah could use her help. She hasn't moved yet, right?" Kie asked. She and Nova weren't on any sort of great terms so she didn't know much about Nova unless JJ or Pope said something.

"No, she's moving next week. I don't even think she knows what happened with John B and Sarah. I'll call her after she gets back from work," Pope said.

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Novalie Heyward had no idea what was going on in the OBX and honestly wanted zero part of it. She hadn't heard from Pope in a few days so to say she was surprised to get a text from him saying he was gonna call her later was a small surprise. She was glad to hear from her brother, obviously, but he tended to talk to her for hours and hours about the drama and his love for Kiara Carrera. It was kinda annoying hearing about the girl she didn't like.

Nova was currently dancing along to the music playing on her speaker as she cleared out her closet, trying to get everything packed up before moving day. She was moving to San Francisco, California with her roommate and close friend, Alora Quinn. Her relationship with Alora obviously wasn't the normal friendship most would assume. They slept with each other every once in a while, mostly after they both came back from a bad date. But they did act like girlfriends on the daily. They just didn't make it official. Which was fine cause they didn't have any romantic feelings for each other.

Her phone rang loudly and she climbed on the bed and grabbed it, pausing the music and answering the call. Her eyes landed on Alora who walked out of the bathroom, trying to clip her bra together as she got ready for work at the hotel. "Yo?" Nova spoke, having Alora turn around to help clip up her bra for her.

"Hey Nov, it's Pope. Sorry I haven't gotten a chance to call, it's been a bit crazy over here," Pope said. "It's cool bro. Aye, what's this shit 'bout Johnny boy bein' a criminal? Thought JJ woulda beat him to that label first," Nova chuckled, rubbing Alora's waist as she sat on her lap, leaning her head on Nova's shoulder.

"Yeah about that, that's kinda why I called. John B and Sarah got lost at sea and everyone thought they were dead but they just contacted us and they're in Nassau right now. So I was wondering if you could maybe do me a favor," Pope crossed his fingers hopefully, sharing looks with Kiara and JJ who were listening next to him.

Nova pursed her lips, she did owe Pope and she would do anything for him and John B anyways. John B was family and if he was with Sarah now, so was she. "Aight, what do you need from me?" Nova laid down, pulling Alora down with her.

"I need you to find them and make sure they don't get into trouble at least until we can clear John B's name. I'll send you their location right now. I really appreciate this, Nova." Alora looked at Nova's phone, noticing their location was at the hotel she worked at. "Hey, that's where I work at," Alora said.

JJ, Kie and Pope all furrowed their brows at the unfamiliar voice. "Who is that?" Pope asked.

"That's my roommate, Alora. They're at the hotel she works at. Imma get dressed and we'll head over there right now," Nova said. Alora climbed off of her, letting Nova get some clothes.

"That's great, thanks Nov. I love you, sis," Pope sighed in relief. 

"Love you too. And one more thing before I hang up. Did you guys fuck with my motorcycle?" Nova absolutely loved her motorcycle. She started building it with her dad at the very age of eight. It was her most prized possession. It's why nobody ever dared go near it.

Pope and JJ shared a look, ultimately deciding to lie to the older girl. But Kie didn't get the hint and spilled, "JJ accidentally crashed it," She blurted out.

"What?!"

"Kie?! What the hell?!" JJ and Pope exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Oh yeah and we had to leave it there but when we went back to get it, it was gone and yesterday I seen Rafe fixing it at Tanneyhill." Kie blurted out again, immediately did JJ cover her mouth with his hands.

"I'm gonna kill you, JJ!" Nova exclaimed, before she could add on, JJ took the phone and hung up quickly. "That little shit," Nova tossed her phone on the bed, deciding she'd deal with that later. Right now she just needed to go find Sarah and John B.

Nova climbed off her bike, and followed Alora inside the hotel. "You see two Americans around here?" Alora asked her coworker at the front desk. "Yeah, they just went outside." He said, pointing outside where they're were actually setting up a wedding venue for someone.

"Thanks." Nova headed outside, the first thing she seen was everyone clapping for John B and Sarah after they shared a dance. The two pulled away and John B's glossy eyes landed on Novalie. "Nova?" His voice was barely above a whisper. Nova grinned and jogged over to him, immediately did her wrap his arms around her, happy tears streaming down his face. "Oh I missed you so much," he whispered.

"Missed you too, Johnny boy," Nova chuckled, pulling away and examining his dirty face. She grimaced, "No offense man, but you reek," John B rolled his eyes but cracked a chuckle.

"Hey Nova," Sarah spoke up, a smile settled on her face. Happy to see Nova for the first time since she moved away. "Hey Sarah, it's good to see you again." Nova brought the blonde girl into a hug, genuinely happy to see a Cameron.

"Cecilia, y'all gotta get outta here, people are staring." Alora warned. John B couldn't help but raise his brows at the name, nobody ever called Nova by her middle name. "Aight, can you get me a key for a room for a few hours so they can clean up? Send room service too, put it on my card," Nova passed Alora her credit card. JB and Sarah both wondering what this relationship was.

"Here, you got five hours," Alora handed her a key. "Thanks baby, appreciate it." Nova pressed a quick kiss to her lips before Alora jogged off to clock in for work.

"Let's go, follow me," Nova said, leading them up some stairs to the room. "Nice girlfriend. What's her name?" John B asked, following Nova up the stairs. "Not my girlfriend," Nova corrected, "and her name is Alora. She's my roommate." John B and Sarah both shared equally confused looks before they eventually got it. "Did Pope send you?" He asked, stepping into the room after she unlocked it and let them in.

"Mhm, now y'all gon' tell me what you did that's got the cops on you?" Nova questioned, locking the door and shutting the windows.

"You go take a shower, I'll tell her. It's better that she hears it from me," Sarah said to John B. He nodded, a bit hesitantly but agreed nevertheless. Nova sat down on the chair as Sarah sat on the soft mattress. "How much has Pope told you so far?" She asked so she didn't have to repeat any information.

"Uhh, he practically told me everything leading up to you guys preparing to gather the gold outta the well," Nova recollected. She couldn't believe the gold was actually real but Pope sent proof and she knew he wouldn't lie about something like that.

"Well, uh, to sum it all up, my dad tried to kill John B on the boat, he told the cops John B tried to hurt him and then ended up getting the gold instead. He then forced me onto the plane with all gold on board to take it to the Bahamas but John B stopped him by driving in front of the plane. The sheriff ended up showing up to arrest my dad for the murder of Big John...and then Rafe shot her." Sarah said the last part slowly, watching Nova's reaction.

Nova blinked, not believing her. "No, no he wouldn't- he wouldn't kill the sheriff. He's crazy, Sarah but he's not capable of doin' that. It's not him." This was the first time she was even talking about him since moving here and she couldn't believe she was actually defending him. But it just didn't seem believable. Yeah, Rafe could be a violent person but he's not capable of murder. At least that's what she thought, and told herself.

"Nova, I know you don't wanna believe it but I was there. I saw it with my own eyes. Why would I make something up like that?" Sarah did make a good point. It definitely wasn't like Sarah to lie. But, it was also hard to believe for Nova.

"What happened next?"

Half an hour later, Sarah finished up telling Nova everything that led up to them arriving in Nassau. John B came out of the shower, still dressed in those dirty clothes so Nova knew she had to take both of them to get some new ones tomorrow. Sarah went into the shower next, borrowing some of the toiletries Nova lent her.

John B sat on the bed across from Novalie, both of them sat in silence, the sound of the shower being the only noise in the room. "You look good, much healthier. I'm proud of you, Nov," John B spoke up, breaking the slience.

"Thanks, JB. This place really helped me, mentally and physically wise," Nova said. John B chuckled, "Yeah I can tell. I think you might be more muscular than Pope." Nova pursed her lips, "I mean, technically I am better at Pope in everything except when it comes to education." John B cracked a smile, nodding in agreement with the older girl.

Nova cleared her throat, getting more serious, "Did he really do it?"

It didn't take a genius to figure out she was talking about Rafe. "I think you already know the answer. You just don't wanna say it or you'll start to believe it," John B said.

Nova nodded slightly, not disagreeing cause he was kinda right. She didn't wanna believe it. But deep down she knew the truth. "I'm sorry 'bout your dad." John B smiled slightly, "Thanks, Nov."

"Aight look, y'all can't exactly stay with me right now cause I'm supposed to be out by tomorrow morning. But, I can help y'all keep it on the low until the pogues can clear your name. I'll get yall some clean clothes tomorrow too. Then, I'll go drop you both off at the OBX once everything is all sorted out there." Nova explained, messing with the ring on her finger. It was the promise ring Rafe had given to her after like a month of dating and she still hadn't taken it off.

"Thank you, Nova, seriously. You don't have to do any of this but I'm glad you are," He said genuinely.

There was a low knock on the door and John B immediately stood up on guard. Nova got up and walked to the door, looking through the peep hole, she unlocked the door and Alora rolled in a cart with some food. "I got the chef to make y'all some american food too," Alora said. John B immediately took the plate she offered and began to stuff his mouth.

"I tried to get the day off tomorrow but the boss wouldn't budge so you gonna have to go shoppin' without me," Alora said, leaning against the table. "It's cool, I can handle them. You do what you gotta do," Nova rubbed Alora's shoulder gently.

"Sarah told you about the gold being here, right?" John B questioned, wiping his mouth as he reached for a drink.

Nova nodded slowly, not sure what John B was trying to say. "So whatchu thinkin'?" she asked slowly.

John B looked to see if the shower was still on before talking, but lowering his voice, "I'm thinking, I just wanna go see if it's really there, and maybe even get it back, or at least some of it," he said. Nova sighed, running a hand down her curly hair, not sure that was a good idea. "And I'm assuming your girlfriend doesn't know about this little plan of yours?"

John B scratched the back of his neck nervously, "I kinda promised her I wouldn't."

Nova let out a disappointed sigh, "Aight, that's on you. I can't help you there. Do what you gotta do, JB. But, if she asks me where you went, I'm not gonna lie to her," she concluded.

"And I won't ask you to."

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a/n: second chapter done omg

we'll see more of alora soon and next chapter you'll see cleo 😻

anyways, how we lovin' nova so far? im obsessed with her ngl 😍

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